Katherine Jenkins has said she is "incredibly humbled" to receive an OBE in the Queen's New Year Honours list.
The Welsh opera singer has been awarded the honour, not only for her contribution to music, but also for her services to charity.
Katherine Jenkins
She said she shared the award with the organisations with which she has worked.
"I am incredibly humbled to receive this great honour. To accept such an award after only a decade of service to music and charity comes as a wonderful surprise," she said.
"I share this award with the charitable bodies I am so privileged to work with, especially to those brave servicemen and women who risk so much for us all on a daily basis."
The Neath-born mezzo-soprano has had a string of popular releases - with 10 albums since making her recording debut in 2004. They have also included two winners of the best album prize at the Classic Brits.
She proved herself to be a talented chorister while at school, winning a number of awards and eventually going on to achieve a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music. After her studies she worked as a singing teacher, tour guide and model until landing a deal with Universal music.
Katherine has also performed before royalty and at sporting ceremonies on numerous occasions.
In 2013 she ran the London Marathon, raising more than £25,000 for a cancer charity, and was among those who attended the funeral of Baroness Thatcher.
